South Australian Egg Board (GA531)

The South Australian Egg Board was established in 1941 under Section 4 (1) of the 'Marketing of Eggs Act 1941'. 'Eggs' under the Act only related to chicken eggs (eggs of fowls) in various formats, including in shell, whole, separated, liquid or dried.

The Board was established out of a Commonwealth scheme for financing egg marketing and enabled egg producers to be paid for their eggs from money advanced by the Commonwealth, with the Commonwealth repaid by the Board when the eggs were sold. This was similar to other schemes in other states (1).

The Board was a body corporate and comprised six members: three persons engaged in keeping fowls for the production of eggs for sale (including one from more than twenty miles from the General Post Office), two persons with experience in trade in eggs (including one suitable to represent the interests of egg retailers) and the Chairman, who was not engaged in producing or selling eggs. The producers' representatives were A.S. Hutchinson (Athelstone), G.R. Cowell (Balhannah) and J.W.K. Andrews (Snowtown); the trade representatives were Mr. Osborn (Farmers' Union dairy produce branch manager) and Mr. E.B. Smith (president of the Retail Storekeeper's Association); and the Chairman was Mr. Anderson (Government Poultry Expert) (2).

From 10 August 1942, all egg producers had to comply with the requirements of the Act regarding the sale and delivery of eggs (3). Under the Act, egg producers were not allowed to sell eggs privately, unless they were exempt under Section 23 (which included small producers, eggs used for charitable, patriotic, educational or scientific purposes, or eggs that were sold to be hatched).

The Egg Board was responsible for grading eggs, selling eggs to merchants, paying the producers, registering agents of the Board and licensing egg collectors. They were also able to process any eggs (drying or pulping) they received before selling them.

By July 1943, egg marketing was brought under the Commonwealth Government Controller of Egg Supplies, appointed under National Security Regulations. The South Australia Egg Board was appointed the Controller's agent for South Australia. Egg marketing was transferred back to the states from 1 January 1948 (4) (5).

The 'Egg Industry Stabilization Act 1973' appointed three members of the Board to the Poultry Farmer Licensing Committee. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Board were Chairman and Deputy Chairman, respectively, of the Poultry Farmer Licensing Committee. Inspectors for the Licensing Committee, responsible for inspecting poultry farms or chicken hatcheries, were officers or servants of the Board.

On 16 April 1992, under the 'Statutes Repeal (Egg Industry) Act 1992', the 'Marketing of Eggs Act 1941' and 'Egg Industry Stabilization Act 1973' were repealed and the South Australian Egg Board was wound up. Its assets were transferred to the Minister of Agriculture. The Minister of Agriculture was allowed to lease land owned by the Egg Board at Keswick to a co-operative with the principal function of assisting egg producers in the marketing of eggs. The land was leased to Southern Egg Pty Ltd. from 11 May 1992 (6).

Egg food safety is now (2021) regulated under the 'Primary Produce (Food Safety Schemes) (Egg) Regulations 2012', administered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA).

References:
(1) 'Egg Board to be Set Up: Scheme Explained', The News, 24 November 1941, p. 5
(2) 'Producers on Egg Board', The News, 27 November 1941, p. 5
(3) 'Marketing of Eggs Act, 1941', The News, 25 July 1942, p. 3
(4) 'Egg Marketing Changes in New Year', The Chronicle, 18 December 1947, p. 10
(5) 'Egg Marketing Under C'wealth Control', The News, 28 June 1943, p. 4
(6) Certificate of Title 4001/234